April 17th, 2008
Garden Bloggers are the Nicest People

chocolate covered strawberries

Maybe that isn’t headline news but I continue to be overwhelmed by the sweetness and generosity of all the people I met at Spring Fling. Today, I opened my door to this incredible present from Robin @ Bumblebee. A dozen of the most luscious chocolate-covered strawberries you can imagine.

 Spring Fling Presents

And so many people brought lovely little pressies with them, so unexpected and dear. Kathy @ Cold Climate Gardening gave me the coolest gardener’s key chain. VBDB @ Playin’ Outside made lemon ginger jam and shared her recipe. Elizabeth @ Gardening While Intoxicated presented a copy of her Buffalo Garden Walk book. Dawn @ Suburban Wildlife Garden, Vertie @ Vert and Nancy @ Nancy’s Garden Spot all shared seeds. Pam @ Digging surprised me with notecards made from photos of her garden. Carol @ May Dreams Gardens took me to lunch. Annie @ The Transplantable Rose had me and Carol to dinner and shared her signature cookie (and sent a bunch home with me to give to AJM who decided I must be friends with Annie forever just to keep those cookies coming.) And Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings has some surprise in the works.

Actually it’s all a surprise. I never expected anything from Spring Fling except the chance to meet up with some of the people I’ve corresponded online with for many years. It was my pleasure to have you all. I’m so touched and overwhelmed by your generosity. I can’t really express myself very well…so I hope you just know. Thank you for coming to Austin. Thank you for visiting my garden and writing about it and taking photos. And thank you for making Spring Fling an experience so unimaginably delightful. Never in my wildest dreams…

by M Sinclair Stevens

8 Responses to post “Garden Bloggers are the Nicest People”

  1. From Bonnie, Austin:

    Agreed- what a great group of people. I’ll help out on an event for this group anytime!

    OK, after seeing your beautiful meadow photo, I want larkspur! How do I grow it?

    Plant it in the fall. I’ll give you some seeds and help you get started. (And write a post in the a fall for everyone else.) — mss

  2. From Anna:

    That first one missing from the box was delicious. Thank you. The second was down right fattening. The half eaten one was cause I started feeling guilty. I hope I can come next year. You guys had way too much fun and then you all got treats too. I love stuff like that.

    Anticipating such a reaction, the packing box came with special instructions printed outside: “Close and lock door. Hide behind large piece of furniture. Quietly open box. Savor and enjoy! — mss

  3. From Pam/Digging (Austin):

    Garden bloggers really do seem to be a special breed—lots of fun, easy to talk to, generous and kind. I’m glad to be a part of this community.

    I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the community aspect of blogging since Spring Fling. — mss

  4. From Carol, May Dreams Gardens:

    I so agree! When I think of all the nice things everyone did for me while I was there, it is bit overwhelming… being driven all over town, delicious dinners, special cookies, passalong plants, and more… I’m also proud to be a garden blogger!

    And I felt all pleased and smug because I was the one who got to drive you around–monopolized you for a entire day and an evening before Spring Fling even started. hee. hee. hee. — mss

  5. From our friend Ben in Pennsylvania:

    That is so great, MSS! Gardeners are the best, aren’t they?! In my experience, people tend to be generous, but gardeners will practically chase you into the street to share a cutting or some special seeds. Aren’t we the lucky ones?

    So true. Maybe we are just that excited to find other people who share our passion when our friends and family merely tolerate it and roll their eyes. A special bravo to the spouses of Spring Flingers who came along in support. — mss

  6. From Annie in Austin:

    We first met because you emailed me, an unknown commenter on your blog, offering to share your bluebonnet seedlings. I was overwhelmed by your generosity, MSS! The garden blogging community does seem to be an especially giving group of people.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

    Remember how we nervously arranged to meet at Smith & Hawken, worried that the other might turn out to be some internet weirdo? I think the all the people who came from out-of-town to Spring Fling to spend a day with strangers were brave indeed…although it turned out that we weren’t strangers at all. — mss

  7. From jodi:

    What a lovely post. Redeems my faith in human nature, it does. You enjoy all your kindnesses from the Spring Flingers–you deserve them!

    For me, blogging for so many years before there was much of a garden blogging community, it’s rather like coming out of a dark lonely cave to a big party. What fun! — mss

  8. From Layanee:

    It isn’t just Austin garden bloggers, it is the whole garden blogging clan! What luscious strawberries and all those other thoughtful items. I think I know how you feel!